Image processing apparatus, image processing method, recording medium thereof, and program thereof

Abstract

In image processing apparatus and method for displaying and printing a person image photographed by a digital camera, it is possible to automatically correct image data and output the person image of an optimum characteristic. In this apparatus, an image obtaining processor obtains the image data from a recording medium, a face region extraction processor extracts a face region of a person from the obtained image data, an image feature amount calculator calculates an image feature amount of the extracted face region, a correction effect inference processor infers whether or not a correction effect can be obtained by correcting a characteristic of the image data, based on the calculated image feature amount, and an image correction processor corrects the characteristic of the image data based on the image feature amount and thus outputs post-correction image data when it is inferred that the correction effect can be obtained.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which corrects gradation and color reproduction characteristics of an image photographed (or shot) by a digital camera or the like, an image processing method which is applied to the image processing apparatus, a recording medium which stores a program to execute the image processing method, and the program itself.[0003]2. Related Background Art[0004]Conventionally, in a case where an image photographed (or shot) by a digital camera is input into, e.g., a PC (personal computer) and the input image is displayed on a display such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or printed by a printer such as an inkjet printer as it is, there are some cases where an image of optimum characteristics (e.g., lightness, color reproducibility, etc.) cannot be output. In these cases, the image characteristics are improved by controlling an exposure process and improving a color process ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An object of the present invention is to be able to, by using an image processing apparatus which displays and prints a person image photographed (or shot) by a digital camera, automatically correct image data and thus output the person image of an optimum characteristic.

[0008]Another object of the present invention is to be able to, in case of automatically correcting the image data by using the image processing apparatus which displays and prints the person image photographed by the digital camera, eliminate a side effect due to the correction process in advance and thus output the person image of the optimum characteristic.

Problems solved by technology

However, in the above first proposal, it is necessary to designate a specific target region in the image so as to determine the representative value, whereby there is a problem that an operation is complicated.

Besides, in the above second proposal, there is a problem that the image including the face region is complicatedly composed of an image that a process effect can be expected, an image that a process effect cannot be expected, and further an image that brings about a reverse effect (hereinafter called a side effect).

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